Meet the Author Afflicted with retinitis pigmentosa, Julia is experiencing severe vision loss. With help from her four daughters, husband Ralph and her guide dog Irene, Julia is adapting to ever-growing blindness. In her book, Looking Through a Keyhole, she shares her experience, perspective, and fight to remain independent. Born into poverty as the twelfth of thirteen children, Julia’s father died when she was two. Her spirit of independence kicked in early – she embarked on her first entrepreneurial venture at age five, selling ice-cold drinks to factory workers. At eight, Julia sold chances to win on a punch card. (Thankfully she broke no laws since the gambling commission was not yet established!) Julia earned her business degree from Kean University. Career highlights include Sales Branch Manager for Friden Alcatel, with a sales staff of 30 reporting to her, and National Sales Manager of Coviana, a subsidiary of Colgate-Palmolive. Throughout her successful corporate career, Julia often was tapped to speak to – and motivate – entire sales divisions. After retiring, Julia co-published Inner Realm, a spiritual and alternative medicine magazine, directed a massage school, and graduated from the Himalayan Institute in Pennsylvania as a certified yoga instructor. Julia arises every morning at 5:00 a.m. to accomplish the many activities of her new career in writing, publishing, marketing and speaking engagements. She also attends a local camera club, a writing circle, and currently writes a monthly yoga column for a local newspaper. She is also writing her second book. She currently resides in Whiting, New Jersey, with her husband Ralph and guide dog Irene.